Dog
West Siberian Laika Champions
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Pronunciation:
west sahy-beer-ee-uh leyk-a
Breed Description:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is a large sized breed of dog that is known for its powerful and athletic build. The dog should have a broad body that is well balanced and developed. The head should be wedge shaped with triangular ears that are set high on the head and erect. The tail should be medium in length and should curl over the back in a tight curl.
The coat of the West Siberian Laika should have a double coat that consists of a thick, dense undercoat that is soft to the touch with a medium length top coat that is course in texture and provides the dog with weather protection. There should be thicker hair and feathering on the neck, shoulders, cheeks, withers and haunch. The West Siberian Laika can be found in several colors including white, salt and pepper, black, red, and gray and they can be both a solid colored and a marked color.
Temperament:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is an affectionate breed that is known for being very loyal and loving. They do well with everyone and get along with children and other pets, although they do have a strong prey drive that may make them unsuitable for homes with small pets. The breed is known for being very friendly and is not recommended as a guard dog since they will let everyone into their home. They are very intelligent and the West Siberian Laika is usually eager to please and easy to train.
Height:
The average height for a West Siberian Laika is between 21 to 24 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a West Siberian Laika is between 40 to 50 pounds.
Health Problems:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog has no known health problems at this time.
Living Conditions:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is not recommended for apartments and they are better suited to homes with a large fenced yard.
Exercise:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is an active dog and does much better when they have something to do. Expect to give them a task every day and also offer them both on leash and off leash exercises. You should give your West Siberian Laika between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and you should only expect to brush the coat about once per week, however; you will need to brush it two or three times a week during shedding periods. In addition, if you live in warmer climates, your grooming needs may increase up to 4 or 5 times a week. They do not need a bath on a regular basis and can go most of the year with only one or two. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and the nails should be clipped once or twice a week, but other than that, nothing more really needs to be done.
Origin:
The West Siberian Laika breed of dog was developed in West Siberia and North Ural and they share a history with the East Siberian Laika, although the two split as separate breeds at an early stage of their development. The West Siberian Laika breed of dog is believed to have been developed from Spitz-like breeds that were native to the area and were developed for hunting a number of different animals including large game and birds. The breed continues to be used for hunting to this day and is considered to be a versatile hunting breed. While they are not recognized by the AKC, the West Siberian Laika was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
